Crafty men’s group sells handmade bird boxes

GET CLOSER to nature in your own garden this spring thanks to a group of Saddleworth men who have been delicately handcrafting bird boxes.

Members of ‘Men in Sheds’, run by Age UK Oldham at the Satellite Centre in Greenfield, have been whittling away over recent weeks to create the houses for all kinds of birds.

With holes of four different sizes, the wooden boxes will provide a safe nest for everything from bluetits to starlings, and there are also open fronted boxes for robins.

And the boxes, which cost just £5 each and are made following RSPB guidelines, have already been a hit with locals – with one order for 20 placed last month.

Project Co-ordinator Dave Freear, who also runs Men in Sheds in Failsworth, said: “It’s a bargain really for your garden this summer and the money goes back into the Shed.

“You can order one ready-made and painted so you just have to put it in your garden and watch out for the birds.

“Or you can get the kids involved too by ordering a flat pack and then you can put it together yourselves and paint it.”

And helping to spruce up other areas of your garden, ‘Men in Sheds’ members are also making planters and bespoke garden items, which are available on request.

Set up last August, the group aims to provide a host of activities to keep men over 55 active and involved in community life.

The workshop environment offers projects including restoration, wooden toy making and building bird tables – as well as putting the world to rights over a brew.

The group has flourished to 15 regular members already and runs two sessions on Thursdays and Fridays, and new recruits are welcome to join.

Dave added: “It’s a brilliant place for making friends and getting out to do something for a few hours.

“I’m really pleased with how it is going and just would like some more people to share it with.”

To order a bird box please contact Dave by calling 0161 682 4747 or emailing: meninsheds@ageukoldham.org.uk

Men in Sheds runs every Thursday and Friday at the Satellite Centre, on Wellington Road in Greenfield, from 9am-12noon and 1pm-4pm. Sessions cost £2 each. Please book in advance by contacting Dave.